Inmates share their stories at annual banquet

Saturday

Oct 20, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Terry Katz

The 22nd annual Jail Ministry Banquet at Calvary Chapel in Sturgis drew more than 200 people Thursday.Five inmates shared testimonies.St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk praised the inmates for their willingness to talk about their lives, saying, “These people are just like you and me. The only difference is they are paying for their mistakes.”“I’ve been a drug addict since I was 4 years old,” said Curtis Babcock. “I actually went to school with Brad (Balk) and Tim (Schuler). But I lived a double life. I was an alcoholic. I would become violent when I was drunk.”Babcock is best known for his gardening expertise. All summer, he was busy in the vegetable garden behind the jail. Because of his efforts, inmates enjoyed fresh vegetables throughout the season.Babcock said he has tried numerous treatments for his addictions and failed. “But Celebrate Recovery here at the jail is Jesus-based,” he said. “This one seems to be working for me.”Babcock said he met a pastor through Celebrate Recovery. Now he has a job offer for spring and summer work after he’s released from jail. He said the volunteers who work through Celebrate Recovery amazed him when they brought his elderly mother to the jail to visit. “We were estranged,” he said.Babcock’s mother is losing her eyesight. She lives in an apartment in Three Rivers on a fixed income, and hasn’t had a driver’s license for 15 years.Babcock said this time, he wants to do better to help his mother. “I will try my best to stay sober,” said Babcock. “I want to be able to drive my mother around.”Other inmates who shared their testimonies were Robert Osborne, Matt Sidmons, Devon Artley and Jacquelyn Copper.Capt. Tim Schuler shared jail statistics with the crowd. There were 3,149 inmates admitted in 2011. “This made for a busy year with our bed capacity at 165,” said Schuler. “What really surprised me were the felony arrests. There were 1,209 in 2011.”Schuler said from January, 2012 to September, 2,454 people were admitted. “Our daily average is five males and one female booked,” Schuler said. Celebrate Recovery volunteers brought a portable tank to the jail in early September for baptisms. Some 126 inmates attended and 42 were baptized.“If it wasn’t for Jake Schwartz (chaplain), my job would be a lot worse than it is,” said Schuler. “Jake comes here seven days a week and evenings, whenever he’s needed.”Chaplain Jake introduced each inmate to speak. He stood with them as they told their stories.He was accompanied by his wife, Martha, who also spends a lot of time helping with the jail ministry. Schwartz said there are volunteers from seven area churches that take turns helping.A free-will offering was taken after the program and 2012-2013 pledges were encouraged to support the jail ministry.